CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technique to control fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in crop plants with special reference to maize

Fall Armyworm imposes a major risk to agricultural losses. Insecticides have historically been used to manage its infestations, but it eventually becomes resistant to them. To combat the pest, a more recent strategy based on the use of transgenic maize that expresses Bt proteins such as Cry1F from the bacteria has been used. Nonetheless, there have been numerous reports of Cry1F maize resistance in FAW populations. Nowadays, the more effective and less time-consuming genome editing method known as CRISPR/Cas9 technology has gradually supplanted these various breeding techniques. This method successfully edits the genomes of various insects, including Spodoptera frugiperda. On the other hand, this new technique can change an insect’s DNA to overcome its tolerance to specific insecticides or to generate a gene drive. The production of plant cultivars resistant to fall armyworms holds great potential for the sustainable management of this pest, given the swift advancement of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its varied uses. Thus, this review article discussed and critically assessed the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology in long-term fall armyworm pest management. However, this review study focuses primarily on the mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in both crop plants and insects for FAW management.